Steve Grimmett - underappreciated vox?

A lifer, to be sure. This guy has recorded on dozens of albums, but I never hear anyone mention him.

I think In Search of Sanity is a Monster album! Wish they could've made that work for at least one more.

He's an okay singer, never fitted Onslaught. He just wasn't a thrash metal guy.

Love In Search... But being not a big thrash fan, that might not be compliment to the album. Voted for Grim Reaper - Rock You to Hell is such a great album.

Actually, he might well be the only NWOBHM vocalist aside from Bruce that I see included among the best metal singers from time to time. Even though some, like DiAnno, Elliott or Byford are better known, of course.

As ridiculous as it is, his physical looks could be one reason.
Another could be the cheese factor of Grim Reaper's lyrics, as well as Onslaught's lyrical reputation that began with Power From Hell, even though Steve didn't sing on that one.

Definitely an excellent and underrated vocalist, though.

Amazing vocalist. One of my all time favorites. In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did. His work with Chateaux is excellent as well - even though he wasn't credited as their lead vocalist - he was. Check it out:

Witchfinder wrote:

Amazing vocalist.  One of my all time favorites.  In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did.

In your opinion, I hate it.

Grim Reaper!!

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Amazing vocalist.  One of my all time favorites.  In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did.

In your opinion, I hate it.

I do too.

Chateaux - was really cool stuff - - " Run Into The Night " - " Shine On " -
I was going to hit ~ other ~ because Chateaux was just that good -
a gothic - primative - hard driving - early metal sound -
His voice is what brought that vibe out - very unique - as if Dio's younger brother !
Saw Grim Reaper in concert too - he had a broken leg -
a small venue in the 80's - afternoon show - I was amazed -
200 of us - he had a great presence - ha ha great lp art too !

My favorite album he sang on would be Onslaught - In Search of Sanity.

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Amazing vocalist.  One of my all time favorites.  In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did.

In your opinion, I hate it.

So which Onslaught is your favorite?

Album one where they ripped off Venom?
Album two where they ripped off Slayer?
Album three where they ripped off Metallica, but with a great vocalist?
  

Witchfinder wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Amazing vocalist.  One of my all time favorites.  In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did.

In your opinion, I hate it.

So which Onslaught is your favorite?

Album one where they ripped off Venom?
Album two where they ripped off Slayer?

How about the newer albums where they rip off Exodus? They are all better than In Search of Sanity IMO.

mc666 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Amazing vocalist.  One of my all time favorites.  In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did.

In your opinion, I hate it.

So which Onslaught is your favorite?

Album one where they ripped off Venom?
Album two where they ripped off Slayer?

How about the newer albums where they rip off Exodus? They are all better than In Search of Sanity IMO.

Or the ones where they ripped off Slayer or Venom, they were better too. Steve Grimmet was the record companies choice as was the godawful cover song. In Search of Sanity was the archetypical 'sell out' record and the fans knew it, they got some new fans for about five minutes and then the band was dead. It took over a decade and going back to Sy Keeler (who is a limited singer but much better suited to what Onslaught are about) for them to gain any credibility with their fanbase again.

I don't want to bag on Steve Grimmet or the trad metal style but at that time Thrash was new, young and exciting, his vocals sounded like a throwback and a sellout.

Boris2008 wrote:

mc666 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Amazing vocalist.  One of my all time favorites.  In Search of Sanity is the best thing Onslaught ever did.

In your opinion, I hate it.

So which Onslaught is your favorite?

Album one where they ripped off Venom?
Album two where they ripped off Slayer?

How about the newer albums where they rip off Exodus? They are all better than In Search of Sanity IMO.

Or the ones where they ripped off Slayer or Venom, they were better too. Steve Grimmet was the record companies choice as was the godawful cover song. In Search of Sanity was the archetypical 'sell out' record and the fans knew it, they got some new fans for about five minutes and then the band was dead. It took over a decade and going back to Sy Keeler (who is a limited singer but much better suited to what Onslaught are about) for them to gain any credibility with their fanbase again.

I don't want to bag on Steve Grimmet or the trad metal style but at that time Thrash was new, young and exciting, his vocals sounded like a throwback and a sellout.

Well it was there best selling album, so the "sellout" worked. I think Grimmet's vocals only added class to that outfit. Just like every other band he's ever been in.

Grim Reaper to be sure. And In Search Of Sanity Kicks ass ! You naysayers need to clean out your ears !   

Witchfinder wrote:

Well it was there best selling album, so the "sellout" worked.  I think Grimmet's vocals only added class to that outfit.  Just like every other band he's ever been in.

Load has outsold Kill Em All & Ride the Lightning combined, since when were sales any indication of quality?   

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Well it was there best selling album, so the "sellout" worked.  I think Grimmet's vocals only added class to that outfit.  Just like every other band he's ever been in.

Load has outsold Kill Em All & Ride the Lightning combined, since when were sales any indication of quality?   

When did I ever say sales = quality?

Also Load has sold 5 million.  Kill 'Em All and Ride combined have sold 9 million. Ride alone has sold 6 million.

In Search of Sanity is actually my favorite Onslaught album.

I like him, but I've only heard him in Onslaught and Grim Reaper. I'll have to check out the others.

As for In Search of Sanity, I'm on the fence with that one. I like the songwriting and potential, but the production is lacking. Certainly not their finest hour, but could've been.

The problem is, while Onslaught are a good band and Grimmett is a good singer, he really isn't suited for the style, which resulted in an album that sucked, and sucked pretty hard at that. It's like if Dave Mustaine sang on a Journey or Foreigner record - while his vocals are suited for thrash, him singing AOR would make a disaster, just like Grimmett singing thrash was.

Witchfinder wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Well it was there best selling album, so the "sellout" worked.  I think Grimmet's vocals only added class to that outfit.  Just like every other band he's ever been in.

Load has outsold Kill Em All & Ride the Lightning combined, since when were sales any indication of quality?   

When did I ever say sales = quality?

Also Load has sold 5 million.  Kill 'Em All and Ride combined have sold 9 million.  Ride alone has sold 6 million.  

By the list I saw Kill Em All 4 million Ride 6 million Load 10.3 million worldwide.

http://prasiante-rockupation.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/metallica-discography-with-sales.html

and you were the one who brought sales figures into a conversation about favorite Onslaught albums.

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Boris2008 wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Well it was there best selling album, so the "sellout" worked.  I think Grimmet's vocals only added class to that outfit.  Just like every other band he's ever been in.

Load has outsold Kill Em All & Ride the Lightning combined, since when were sales any indication of quality?   

When did I ever say sales = quality?

Also Load has sold 5 million.  Kill 'Em All and Ride combined have sold 9 million.  Ride alone has sold 6 million.  

By the list I saw Kill Em All 4 million Ride 6 million Load 10.3 million worldwide.

http://prasiante-rockupation.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/metallica-discography-with-sales.html

and you were the one who brought sales figures into a conversation about favorite Onslaught albums.

My sales are the RIAA sales figures. Again, I never said sales equal quality. What I said was their sellout album worked for them saleswise. It also happens to be my personal favorite of theirs. The two aren't related. Grimmett is an excellent vocalist and he made In Search For Sanity unique. I can't think of any other albums that sound like Metallica with a great lead singer. For me, the combination was amazing.

Wow ! This is a cool banter - I like it ! The metal essentials LOL -
Can someone post a youtube Onslaught song that they think is good ?
Or the best Lionheart song ? - I'd love to check it out - see if it's worth buying !
" Search For Sanity " sounds like 'they' picked the appropriate title for the project that year -